PUBLISHED April 1st, 2014 01:00 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:47 pm
In April’s round up of new restaurants, bars and cafes across Singapore, there is distinct trend: the great reinvention! This month sees places popping up where others had closed, and places relaunching themselves as something else after an entire reboot. As well as a plethora of reincarnations, there are also fresh-as-a-daisy newbies, including the next hot hang out in Duxton, cakes to make you salivate, the new cocktail bar that has everyone talking, plus a culinary adventure across the Alps. Here’s our pick of hot places to check out this month:
1. Life is Beautiful Kitchen & Bar
The latest resident in the Duxton enclave is here to bring you some New Orleans Louisiana flava through new school interpretations of old school dishes. Think exotic, soul food and seafood based favourites served up in a cool contemporary dining and bar space. If you have absolutely no idea what kind of food you can expect, you might be surprised by to see items like Absinthe-washed Oyster Sorbet and Gator (that’s Alligator to you and I!) & Fennel Boudin amongst the menu items – but hey, that’s the breadth of Southern cuisine! With food offerings complemented by a seasonal drinks menu, expect a Southern States adventure on the cocktail side of things against the soundtrack of cool resident DJs at this hotly tipped-to-be-the-new-in-place hang out!
Life is Beautiful Kitchen & Bar is located at 99 Duxton Road, Singapore, 089543. Opening hours are Tuesday: 6pm – midnight, Wednesday – Saturday: 6pm – 3am. For more information see the Life Is Beautiful Facebook page here.
2. Manhattan
Inspired by the 19th century Golden Age of cocktails of old New York, Manhattan is where craft bartending meets artisanal spirits with classic and forgotten cocktails in a journey through Manhattan’s neighbourhoods from Harlem to Wall Street and everything in-between. Complete with the world’s first in-hotel rickhouse to age and finish whiskies, other spirits, bitters and single-cask cocktails, it even boasts its own ingredients room – a treasure trove of unique ingredients like wildcherry bark and shisandra berries. We’re talking serious, handcrafted business here thanks to bartender extraordinaire, Ricky Paiva, who honed his craft at some of the world’s leading bars along with a very awesome moustache! We hear the gourmet bar bites are a mean match for the cocktails too.
Manhattan is located on the 2nd Floor, Regent Singapore, 1 Cuscaden Rd, Singapore, 249715. Opening on 24th April – opening hours will be Monday – Sunday: 5pm – 1am. For more information see the Regent website here.
3. Element and Element on Tras Street
The Amara Singapore ups its game with a major revamp and relaunch of Element and Element on Tras Street, but what’s the big deal and why are loads of people talking about it? Element has morphed its previous international buffet to include a highlight on Spanish cuisine, thanks to its new Chef fresh from the Basque gastronomic epicentre, San Sebastian. Expect a multi-concept space serving up a vibrant a la carte menu which features Basque cuisine including playful pintxos (that’s Basque tapas to you and I), mains and desserts alongside Asian and Western items, Toby’s Estate coffee plus cocktails on tap in the alfresco and indoor bar and nightly DJs.
Element and Element on Tras Street is located at The Amara Hotel, 100 Tras Street, Singapore, 079027. Opening hours are Monday – Thursday: 6am – 1am. Friday – Saturday: 6am – 2am. Sunday: 6am – 1am. For more information see the Element and Element Facebook page here.
4. Cotton
We’ve often lamented the lack of decent dining options along the seafront at East Coast, and so it is with fingers crossed that we’re writing about Cotton, which has picked up where 1-Twenty Six left off. A restaurant and cocktail lounge with a focus on seafood, grilled meats and weekend brunch, we’re loving the sound of their Communal Menu which for $88++ gives you a seafood appetizer tasting selection, choice of two char-grilled items (Boston Lobster or Maguro Tuna Loin anyone?!) two sides and desserts just perfect for sharing along with that panoramic sea view. We’re looking forward to grabbing a partner in crime and checking that one out!
Cotton is located at 902 East Coast Parkway, #01-26, Big Splash, Singapore, 449874. Opening hours are Sunday – Thursday: 5pm – midnight, Friday – Saturday 5pm – 3am. For more information see the Cotton website here.
5. Lewin Terrace
An upscale fine dining restaurant serving Japanese and French fusion cuisine, Lewin Terrace can be found perched in the depths of Fort Canning in a charming and rather romantic black and white bungalow – the former residence of the Chief who once headed the Central Fire station on Hill Street. Expect Challandaise duck to be bedfellows with produce from Kyoto; and Japanese seabream with seaweed puree to sit alongside a reincarnation of the fish in risotto form, as French and Japanese techniques and produce see a happy marriage at this new establishment.
Lewin Terrace is located at 21 Lewin Terrace Singapore, 179290. Opening hours are Monday – Sunday: midday – 2pm, 6.30pm – 9.30pm (last order).
6. The Study
Forget Keong Saik Snacks – in case you hadn’t yet heard it’s been reincarnated as The Study. Staying true to Michelin Star Chef’s Jason Atherton Brit roots, the Study is inspired by British cafe culture serving up the likes of Lamb Chops and Shepherd’s Pie with a few Asian dishes thrown into the mix. Think clever yet classic comfort food and good ol’ bistro fare served up in laid back surrounds peppered by quirky knick knacks and devilish doo-das.
The Study is located at 48 Keong Saik Road, Singapore, 089153. Opening hours are Monday – Sunday: midday – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm. For more information see The Study’s Facebook page here.
7. Manor Cocktail Room
Listen up cocktail lovers! If you loved Bitters & Love, then we’re guessing you will want to be checking out the new venture by the man that brought it to you – bespoke cocktail genius Din Hassan – who has found a new home over at Manor Cocktail Room. Inside the Manor Cocktail Room, you’ll find a map of the world and on it, you’ll find names of bartenders from across the globe. And guess what? Soon those very same bartenders will be winging their way over to make a guest appearance at Manor Cocktail Room. Thumbs up for the concept then. Thumbs up also for the interior which funnily enough, resembles an English country manor of sorts. We are excited! And so should you be.
Manor Cocktail Room is located at 8 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore, 069788. Opening hours are Monday – Thursday: 5pm – 1am. Friday: 5pm – 2am. For more information see The Manor Cocktail Room’s Facebook page here.
8. Zott’s True Alps
Yodelayheehoo! Newly opened Zott’s True Alps is here to bring you some Alpine adventure with cuisine from across the Alpine ranges all the way from the west of France right across to Austria in the east. Dining at Zott’s promises to take you on an epicurean journey against the backdrop of an Alpine-inspired interior. We’re loving the gourmet travel ‘itineraries’ – a 5 course menu which will scoot you around the different culinary regions at the centre of the concept, complete with a map so you can learn a bit of geography along the way and not feel like a total dumbass when you quietly wonder to yourself “where is that?”. We’re looking forward to seeing how the fondue stacks up not to mention the Bondage Chicken (ooh err)!
Zott’s is located at 97 Amoy St., Singapore, 069917. Opening hours are Monday – Friday: 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11.30pm.
9. Cake Love Couture
It seems we just can’t get enough of sweet treats. Thankfully Cake Love Couture isn’t making us decide whether we feel like cupcakes or macarons but rather is going all out and giving us a little bit of everything – cupcakes, fudge brownies, jar desserts, handmade marshmallows, macarons, cake pops plus some of the good old fashioned kinda cake. The gals behind this venture are on a mission to serve up the best looking and tasting cakes that have ever tempted you – or as they call it…Singapore’s finest collection of designer confectionary. We’re looking forward to seeing whether they fit that bill!
Cake Love Couture is located at 4 Jalan Pisang, Singapore, 129071. Opening hours are Tuesday — Saturday: 11am – 7pm. Sunday: 11am – 4pm. For more information see the Cake Love Culture’s website here.
10. Royal Pavillion
Park Regis has flung open the doors to its new-world Cantonese restaurant, Royal Pavillion, helmed by Chef Chung Ho Shi. A rather luxe looking affair – think chandelier statement pieces and cloud-motif panels – expect a blend of the new and old as contemporary Cantonese creations are fused with traditional Cantonese cooking styles. Of course, the reason why we are really excited about this? A fresh new place to get your dim sum fix – yippee!
Royal Pavillion is located at Level 1, Park Regis, 23 Merchant Road, Singapore, 0588268. Opening hour are Monday – Sunday: 11.30am – 2.30pm and 6pm – 10.30pm. For more information see here.
Written by Ms Demeanour